All Questions
Tagged with ki-sisa or parashat-ki-tisa
108 questions
4
votes
1
answer
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Contradiction between the book of Exodus and the book of Ezekiel
In Exodus 34:7, it says that the consequences of sin can be passed down to the third and fourth generations, but in Ezekiel 18:20, it states that each person is responsible only for their own sins. ...
- 49
0
votes
1
answer
79
views
The Alshich's explanation on the machatzis hashekel
The Alshich HaKodesh (Shemos, 30:13, sv. והנה על דבר שיעור מחצית השקל ולא שקל שלם) seems to explain what the reason is behind the machatzis hashekel - the half shekel - he seems to be saying that the ...
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1
vote
0
answers
33
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Why didn’t the Jews appoint Aaron in place of Moshe
When Moshe went “missing” on Har Sinai, why didn’t the Jews just appoint Aaron as the new leader? I mean he was clearly the second in command to Moshe, and he’d performed some of the plagues in Egypt ...
- 3,271
3
votes
1
answer
199
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The half shekel and atonement for the soul
In parashas Ki Sissa, G-d instructs Moshe to collect from all the people, half a shekel:
When thou dost take the sum of the children of Yisra᾽el after their
number, then shall they give every man a ...
- 11.7k
0
votes
0
answers
38
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What is the difference between the different Hebrew words for sin? [duplicate]
What is the difference between transgression, iniquity, and sin?
Exodus 34:7:
נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֛ן וָפֶ֖שַׁע וְחַטָּאָ֑ה
In the Sefaria translation:
forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin
- 143
-5
votes
2
answers
1k
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Why is it believed that Angels spoke with Moses at Sinai, when he spoke with God 'face to face'?
Why is it believed that the angels or angel spoke to Moses, as God's mediator, when Exodus 33:11 says Moses saw God face to face and directly spoke with him? Is this communication through the angels ...
- 335
3
votes
0
answers
60
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Misleading description of 40 days and nights leading to the eigel?
The final passuk in Mishpatim says:
וַיָּבֹ֥א מֹשֶׁ֛ה בְּת֥וֹךְ הֶעָנָ֖ן וַיַּ֣עַל אֶל־הָהָ֑ר וַיְהִ֤י
מֹשֶׁה֙ בָּהָ֔ר אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים לָֽיְלָה׃ {פ}
Moses went inside the cloud and ...
- 960
0
votes
2
answers
212
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Golden Calf: Moshe had a Golden Answer to Hashem. Why didn't he say it?
Rabbi Lazer Ginzburg seems to say the greatest thing a Jewish leader can do when his people are causing Gds anger, is to say to Hashem: "It's because of me that the yidden are sinning!" (he ...
- 611
4
votes
0
answers
148
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Why is Betzalel (the constructor of the mishkan), only mentioned after the entire building process of the mishkan?
Being that in Parashat Terumah and a portion of Tezaveh discusses the building of the Mishkan with all its vessels, the Torah hadn't told us who the constructor of the Mishkan was until Parashat Ki ...
- 3,592
5
votes
1
answer
238
views
Why didn't Aharon sacrifice his life to avoid making the Golden Calf?
The commentaries say he made the golden calf cause he was scared they would kill him as they did Chur. But aren't you supposed to let yourself be killed rather then commit/create idolatry?
- 2,413
0
votes
1
answer
146
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Rav Kapach on Rambam's view on the identification of Keneh bosem
As a follow up to this question, there seem to be two contradictory conclusions on what Rambam holds to be the keneh bosem.
First it is said that (Rav Kapach's notes to) Rambam's commentary in the ...
- 7,084
0
votes
3
answers
150
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The panav of HaShem [duplicate]
Exodus 33:28 and 23:
לֹא תוּכַל לִרְאֹת אֶת-פָּנָי: כִּי לֹא-יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם, וָחָי.
וְרָאִיתָ, אֶת-אֲחֹרָי; וּפָנַי, לֹא יֵרָאוּ.
Looking at these verses G-d clearly says that no one can see ...
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1
vote
1
answer
49
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Greeting the old
Could someone help me understand the meaning behind this saying from Midrash Tanchuma (Ki Tisa 27):
המקבל פני זקן כאלו מקבל פני שכינהWhoever greets the old - it is as if they greet the Divine ...
- 7,596
2
votes
0
answers
33
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Is A Plural Verb Indicative on Singular or Plural When Modifying Elokim
Rashi on Shemot 32:1 says bnei Yisrael desired many gods (ד״ה ״אשר ילכו לפנינו״) because as Be’er Mayim Chaim points out, the verse uses the plural verb ילכו instead of ילך. There really should be no ...
- 837
0
votes
2
answers
137
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Rashi’s Explanation Doesn’t Seem to Fit in the Dibbur Hamatchil
Rashi on Shemot 32:18 explains קול ענות גבורה and קול ענות חלושה however the dibbur hamatchil is אין קול ענות גבורה. Why is he explaining the קול ענות חלושה here when the dibbur hamatchil indicates ...
- 837
2
votes
0
answers
26
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Because of Bnei Yisrael or Not
Rashi (שמות לב:ז ד״ה ״לך רד), sourcing Brachot 32a, explains that HKB”H tells Moshe to descend from his greatness because H’ only gave Moshe greatness on account of bnei Yisrael. In addition, Moshe ...
- 837
6
votes
2
answers
82
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Yeraeh el HaAdon, or Yeraeh es HaAdon
The mitzvah of aliya leregel, the thrice-yearly pilgrimage festival, appears a few times in the Torah.
In Exodus 23:17 it's written:
שָׁלֹ֥שׁ פְּעָמִ֖ים בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה יֵרָאֶה֙ כָּל־זְכ֣וּרְךָ֔ אֶל־...
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2
votes
2
answers
282
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Why is myrrh the allusion to Mordechai?
The Gemara Chullin (139b) writes
מרדכי מן התורה מנין דכתיב (שמות ל, כג) מר דרור ומתרגמינן מירא דכיא -
Where is Mordechai in the Torah? It says myrrh, which is translated as
'mira dachya'.
...
- 14.8k
2
votes
0
answers
71
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Why Yehoshua's lineage
In Shemos 33:11, the prophet Yehoshua is referred to as Yehoshua bin Nun.
וְדִבֶּ֨ר יְהוָ֤ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֙ פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יְדַבֵּ֥ר אִ֖ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְשָׁב֙ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה ...
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3
votes
0
answers
78
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ki tisa: menorah versus menorah ha'tehorah
In parashat Ki Tisa two similar passages are written regarding the Ohel Mo'ed (Tent of Meeting). In the first (Shemot 30:27) Moshe Rabbenu is ordered to anoint the kelim with the shemen mischat-kodesh,...
- 2,036
10
votes
1
answer
371
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How many people participated in the golden calf?
When Moshe comes down from Har Sinai & sees the golden calf he says ‘Whoever is for God, join me.’ After the Leviim gather he orders them to grab their swords & execute anyone involved. They ...
- 1,174
1
vote
1
answer
152
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Why the Golden calf was a calf and not a bull?
If I recall correctly, the sources say the idol was created grown up and fully functioning.
Even if it was still in infant stages, Bava Kamma 65b:
אמר רבא שור בן יומו קרוי שור
(DonielF) according ...
- 28k
3
votes
1
answer
203
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How is כֹּרֵת בְּרִית interpreted as "make" instead of "cut"?
וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי כֹּרֵת בְּרִית נֶגֶד (Exodus 34:10)
And Targum translates similarly:
"וַאֲמַר הָא אֲנָא גְזַר קְיַם"
Why כֹּרֵת relatively to the covenant end up being interpreted as "...
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2
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0
answers
35
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Is there an opinion that plowing and harvesting on Shabbos are not punishable by Kareis and Skilah? If not, why?
Shabbos 70a records a dispute between R' Nassan and R' Yosi on how to interpret the seemingly extra passuk (Shemos 35:3):
לֹא־תְבַעֲר֣וּ אֵ֔שׁ בְּכֹ֖ל מֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּי֖וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃
Do ...
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2
votes
1
answer
208
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Shemot 30:32 anointing oil NOT to be poured on human flesh?
Shemot 30:32
לבעַל־בְּשַׂ֤ר אָדָם֙ לֹ֣א יִיסָ֔ךְ וּבְמַ֨תְכֻּנְתּ֔וֹ לֹ֥א תַֽעֲשׂ֖וּ כָּמֹ֑הוּ קֹ֣דֶשׁ ה֔וּא קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶֽם
"It shall not be poured upon human flesh, and according to its ...
- 1,522
2
votes
1
answer
69
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Why Moses could be only replaced with an idol?
In the previous question about the Golden Calf I thought it was suspicious that neither Moses left the "chain of command" just in case, neither Aharon offered himself as Moses' replacement.
Also, ...
- 28k
2
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0
answers
63
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Why are the Keilim of the Mishkan broken up?
In Shemos 25:1-27:21 (all of Terumah and the very beginning of Tetzaveh), the Pesukim describe the vessels of the Mishkan, the structure of the Mishkan, and the oil of the Menorah.
In Shemos 28:1-29:...
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vote
0
answers
44
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Was the wording on each tablet sized differently?
Was the wording on each tablet sized differently? It's said that the second tablet that contained the Commandments for man's relationship to man had larger wording so man would have no problem reading ...
- 1,522
2
votes
2
answers
88
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This (G-d) or these (gods)?
I noticed that the words זֶה אֱלֹהֶיךָ from the verse of Nehemiah 9:18 describing the Golden Calf are often translated as: 'This is your G-d'. But Exodus 32:4 and 32:8 speak of אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ which ...
- 7,596
4
votes
0
answers
39
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How could a month-old at the time of the half-shekel donation have been through the sea?
The commentary of Haamek Davar to the first few verses of Ki Sisa (Exodus 30:11–16) explains that they refer to two different obligatory donations. Each was half a shekel per person, and each served ...
- 74k
7
votes
3
answers
211
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Golden Calf. Moshe asks for forgiveness for the people. But they have not repented?
The people sinned with the Golden Calf. Three thousand people who worshipped it were slain by the Leviim Shmos 32 (28).
Then Moshe says to the remainder Shmos 32 (30)
The next day Moses said to ...
- 48.7k
3
votes
2
answers
265
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Why are future generations still paying for the sin of the Golden Calf?
Parshas Ki Tisa recounts the episode of the golden calf, and the immediate punishment that was meted out for the sin. In addition to this, Rashi on Shemos 32:34 (quoting Sanhedrin 102a ) writes:
...
- 12.2k
3
votes
0
answers
54
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The realistic expectations from the Golden Calf
It is difficult for me to understand people's expectations from the Golden Calf they made.
Strangely Aharon and others didn't try to argue on the logic of creating a dummy. So the calf was magically ...
- 28k
1
vote
1
answer
63
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Was every commandment on the Tablets inscribed with a different finger of G-d?
In continuation to "the-importance-of-the-tablets-being-written-with-g-ds-finger":
I heard in Hagada of Pesach, when the Rabbis discuss the number of the plagues they compare it to hands and fingers. ...
- 28k
1
vote
0
answers
83
views
The Golden Calf timeline - hour by hour?
I can't figure out how the making of the Calf was possible in a couple of hours:
12pm was the time Moses promised to return. Satan started fooling around, people started to question.
The bad guys (...
- 28k
-1
votes
1
answer
53
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Why didn't Moses leave the chain of command?
This is a follow-up to "why-didnt-they-ask-aharon-to-lead".
In Parshas Yisro and later we learn that the Jewish People had some kind of "the chain of command" or at least "the chain of judgment": ...
- 28k
3
votes
0
answers
39
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How did Moses know he'll spend 40 days at the mountain?
As we all know the Golden Calf started with Moses coming up the mountain to learn with Hashem (Ex 24,17):
וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל־מֹשֶׁה עֲלֵה אֵלַי הָהָרָה וֶהְיֵה־שָׁם וְאֶתְּנָה לְךָ אֶת־לֻחֹת הָאֶבֶן ...
- 28k
1
vote
0
answers
34
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Moses' problematic communication with the nation in the Golden Calf incident
In my plain understanding, the matter that triggered the story of the Golden Calf was Moses' bad explanation of his plan spending the next 40 days and coming back.
He told the nation, he'll be back ...
- 28k
3
votes
1
answer
95
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The Golden calf - why wasn't Aharon asked to lead instead of Moses?
As I understand, the Israelites thought Moses was dead. It seems very logical that the vice-president takes the lead.
Aharon was Moses' brother, a prominent prophet, chosen by G-d, and Moses' vice.
...
- 28k
1
vote
1
answer
65
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How the Tablets were written - all at once or letter by letter?
In my previous question the Torah says explicitly that the Tablets were written by G-d's finger.
Does it mean they were written letter by letter, as one finger can do, or all at once?
- 28k
1
vote
1
answer
70
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What's the importance of the Tablets being written with G-d's finger?
"וַיִּתֵּן אֶל־מֹשֶׁה כְּכַלֹּתוֹ לְדַבֵּר אִתּוֹ בְּהַר סִינַי
שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת הָעֵדֻת לֻחֹת אֶבֶן כְּתֻבִים בְּאֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים׃" (Ex 31:18)
He gave Moses the two tablets of the Pact, stone ...
- 28k
2
votes
0
answers
74
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קול ענות אנכי - The sound of selfishness?
When Moshe came down from Mount Sinai with the knowledge that his people corrupted themselves (dealt corruptly) - quickly turned aside the way which HaShem commanded them, making a molten calf, ...
- 7,596
0
votes
1
answer
100
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Is Aaron's lesson one of nepotism?
Is Aaron's lesson one of nepotism? In Exodus 32, Aaron takes the lead in creating the golden calf, but in Deuteronomy 9:20 all is forgiven because Moses prays for him. One could say the lesson here ...
- 119
-2
votes
1
answer
73
views
Three golden calfs
What are the similarities and differences between the story of the egel hazahav (golden calf) (Ki Sisa chapter 32) and the story of the two golden calves made by Jeroboam (I Melachim 12:28)?
- 7,596
6
votes
1
answer
217
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Comparing the Heart and Luchot
I was reading in Mishlei (3:3, 7:3) the other day and noticed that our hearts are sometimes compared to tablets, and that on it the Words of HaShem should be inscribed. This reminded me of Yirmiyahu ...
- 7,596
4
votes
1
answer
86
views
A sound of distress, while dancing around the golden calf?
After Moshe received the Aseret HaDevarim he came down from the mountain and heard a lot of noise coming from amongst the people that awaited his arrival. The people had just built a golden calf, and ...
- 7,596
4
votes
0
answers
51
views
Odd flow in shacharis of Shabas [duplicate]
The central benediction of the morning amida prayer on the sabbath reads as follows (in loose translation):
Moses… stood before You on Mt. Sinai. He brought down [from the mountain], by hand, two ...
- 74k
1
vote
1
answer
75
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make atonement - אכפרה
Shemot 32:30 teaches us that Moshe said to the people: “You have sinned a great sin, and now I will go up unto the Lord, peradventure I shall make atonement for you.”
Bereshit 32:20 Likewise teaches ...
- 7,596
3
votes
0
answers
30
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Why is “truth” a trait of compassion?
One of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy is that of “truth” (Shemos 34:6). ArtScroll (ex. Yom Kippur Machzor, p. 110) quotes Rabbeinu Tam,1 who explains that “truth” refers to the fact that He never ...
- 34.7k
3
votes
4
answers
210
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Seeing Elohim and live?
Shemot 33:20 teaches us that: ‘One can’t see G-ds face and live, for man shall not see G-d and live‘ (לֹא תוּכַל לִרְאֹת אֶת-פָּנָי: כִּי לֹא-יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם, וָחָי.).
When Ya’akov named the ...
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